The Indigo Spell Chapter Twenty-Four

I FELT PRETTY BAD about burning down my teacher's house. Ms. Terwilliger, for obvious reasons, seemed to think that was the least of her problems. She wasn't sure if her insurance would cover the damage, but her company was pretty speedy in sending someone out to investigate the cause. We were still waiting to hear their verdict on coverage, but one thing they didn't report finding was any sign of human remains. Part of me was relieved that I hadn't actually killed anyone. Another part of me feared we hadn't seen the last of Alicia. What silly comparison had Adrian made? The Moriarty to your Holmes. I had to imagine that being hit in the face with razor blades and then left in a burning building would make anyone hold a grudge. A little investigation eventually turned up Veronica at a Los Angeles hospital, checked in as Jane Doe. Visiting her comatose sister became the greatest of Ms. Terwilliger's priorities, and she harbored hopes of possibly finding a way to undo the spell. Despite how busy she now was, my teacher still managed to urge me to meet her coven, and I agreed for a few different reasons. One was that it was kind of impossible for me to act like I didn't want to wield magic anymore. The other reason was that I didn't plan on being around. I was still resolved to go with Marcus to Mexico, and the week flew by. Winter finals were a breeze, and before I knew it, it was Friday, the day before our trip to Mexico. I took a risk by telling my friends goodbye. The safest thing would've been to disappear without a trace, but I trusted them all – even Angeline – to keep my secret and feign ignorance once the Alchemists discovered they had a runaway. I told Trey as well. No matter what had gone down between us, he was still my friend, and I would miss him. As the day wore on, the dorm grew quieter and quieter – aside from unending Christmas music playing in the lobby. Not wanting to exclude other religions, Mrs. Weathers had also set out a menorah and â€Å"Happy Kwanzaa† banner. Tomorrow was officially the last day before everyone had to be out, and a number of people had already left for winter break. I'd finished my own packing, which was light. I didn't want to be burdened down with excess luggage since I really had no idea what to expect in Mexico. I still had two people I needed to say goodbye to: Adrian and Jill. I'd avoided them both for very different reasons, but time was running out. I knew Jill was just a flight of stairs away, but Adrian was more difficult. We'd been in touch a couple times after the fire, simply to sort out some details, but he'd soon gone silent. No calls, no texts, no dreams. Maybe I should've been glad. Maybe I should've welcomed the chance to leave without any painful goodbyes . . . but I couldn't. My chest ached with the thought of not seeing him again. Even though he was the reason I was leaving, I still felt like I needed some closure. It's not about closure, Sydney. You want to see him. You need to see him. And that's exactly why you have to leave. Finally, I took the plunge and called him. It took me so long to work up the nerve that I could hardly believe it when he didn't answer. I resisted the urge to immediately try again. No. I could wait. There would still be time tomorrow, and surely . . . surely he wasn't avoiding me? I decided to hold off on talking to Jill until the next day. Telling her goodbye was just as difficult – and not just because of what she saw through the bond. I knew she'd think I was abandoning her. In truth, if I stayed and ended up with Adrian, I'd possibly be caught and never be able to help her at all. At least if I was away and free, I could try to help her from the outside. I hoped she'd understand. Waiting on her gave me the opportunity to take care of an unwelcome errand: returning Malachi Wolfe's gun. I'd never gone to his home without Adrian, and even though I knew I had nothing to fear from Wolfe, there was still something a little unsettling about going to the compound alone. To my complete and utter astonishment, Wolfe let me into the house when I arrived. All was quiet. â€Å"Where are the dogs?† I asked. â€Å"At training,† he said. â€Å"I have a friend who's an expert dog trainer, and he's giving them some stealth lessons. He used to work for a local K-9 unit.† I didn't think it was in the Chihuahua genetic code to ever be stealthy. I kept that to myself and instead stared around in amazement at Wolfe's kitchen. I'd expected something like a ship's galley. Instead, I found an astonishingly cheery room, with blue-checkered wallpaper and a squirrel cookie jar. If someone had asked me to describe the most unlikely Wolfe kitchen out there, it would've looked something like this. No – wait. On the refrigerator, he had some magnets that looked like ninja throwing stars. That, at least, was in character. Adrian's going to flip out when I tell him. Then I remembered I might not see Adrian for a very long time. That realization killed whatever amusement I'd just felt. â€Å"So what do you need?† asked Wolfe. Peering at him, I suddenly had a strange feeling the eye patch really was on a different eye from last time. I should've paid more attention. â€Å"Another gun?† I returned to the task at hand. â€Å"No, sir. I didn't even need the first one, but thanks for lending it to me.† I removed it from the bag and handed it to him. He gave the gun a once-over and then set it inside a drawer. â€Å"Fixed your problem? You can still hang on to it if you want.† â€Å"I'm leaving the country. Bringing it over the border might cause me some trouble.† â€Å"Fair enough,† he said. He grabbed the cookie jar and took off the lid, leaning it toward me. An amazing scent drifted out. â€Å"Want one? I just made them.† I was really regretting not being able to tell Adrian about this. â€Å"No thanks, sir. I've had more than enough sugar these last few weeks.† I felt like I should have a frequent customer card for Pies and Stuff. â€Å"I thought you looked better. Not all skin and bones anymore.† He nodded in approval, which felt really weird and slightly creepy. â€Å"So where are you two kids going?† â€Å"Mexi – oh, Adrian's not going with me. I'm going with someone else.† â€Å"Really?† He slid the squirrel back across the counter. â€Å"I'm surprised. I always figured when you two left here, you went home and had your own private ‘training sessions.'† I felt myself turning bright red. â€Å"No! It's not like – I mean, we're just friends, sir.† â€Å"I had a friend like that once. Silver Tooth Sally.† He got that faraway expression that always came on when he had an anecdote to share. â€Å"I'm sorry, did you say – â€Å" â€Å"Never met a woman like Sally,† he interrupted. â€Å"We fought our way across Switzerland together, always watching each other's backs. We finally got out alive – just barely – and she wanted to come back to the States and settle down. Not me. I had dreams, you see. I was a young man then, drawn to danger and glory. I left her and went off to live with an Orcadian shaman. It took two years and a lot of vision quests to realize my mistake, but when I got back, I couldn't find her. When I close my eye at night, I can still see that tooth sparkle like a star. It haunts me, girl. It haunts me.† I frowned. â€Å"I don't think the Orcadians have vision quests, sir. Or shamans.† Wolfe leaned forward and shook a finger at me, his eye wide. â€Å"Learn from my mistakes, girl. Don't go to the Orkneys. You don't need some mystical vision to see what's in front of you, you hear me?† I gulped. â€Å"Yes, sir.† I hurried out after that, thinking that being in a different country from Malachi Wolfe might be a good thing. The next morning, I prepared to tell Jill goodbye, but she beat me to it and showed up at my door. It was the first time we'd truly spoken since the morning after that last dream with Adrian. She walked into my room and frowned when she saw the suitcase. â€Å"You're really going?† â€Å"Yes. And I'm sure you know why.† She crossed her arms and looked me straight in the eye, without any of the reservation she'd shown last time. I had trouble holding that stare. â€Å"Sydney, don't leave Adrian because of me.† â€Å"It's more complicated than that,† I said automatically. â€Å"It's really not,† she said. â€Å"From everything I've seen and heard, you're just afraid. You've always controlled every detail of your life. When you couldn't – like with the Alchemists – you found a way to seize back that control.† â€Å"There's nothing wrong with wanting control,† I snapped. â€Å"Except that we can't always have it, and sometimes that's a good thing. A great thing, even,† she added. â€Å"And that's how it is with Adrian. No matter how hard you try, you aren't going to be able to control your feelings for him. You can't help loving him, and so you're running away. I'm just an excuse.† Who was she to lecture me like this? â€Å"You think I'm lying about how awkward it is for you to see everything that happens between us? Every intimate detail is on display. I can't do that. I can't live like that.† â€Å"Adrian's learned to.† â€Å"Well, he's had to.† â€Å"Exactly.† Some of her fierceness mellowed. â€Å"Sydney, he brought me back from the dead. It's the greatest thing anyone can or will do for me. I can't pay him back, but I can let him live his life the way he wants to. I don't expect him to shelter me because of the bond, and I'm not going to judge him – or you. Someday, he and I will learn to block each other.† â€Å"Someday,† I reiterated. â€Å"Yes. And until then, we do the best we can. All you're doing by leaving is making three people miserable.† â€Å"Three?† I frowned. â€Å"I'm helping you.† â€Å"Do you really think I'm happy when he's miserable? Do you think I like the darkness that crawls over him?† When I said nothing, she pushed forward. â€Å"Look, I don't have the same physical reaction to you that he does, but when he's with you, he's so full of joy . . . it radiates through to me, and it's one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. I've never been in love like you guys are.† â€Å"I'm not – † I couldn't say it, and she gave me a knowing look. I tried a different tactic. â€Å"Staying here is dangerous, especially with him. The Alchemists might find out about everything – him, my tattoo, Ms. Terwilliger, and God knows what else.† â€Å"And if they don't find out, look at what you get. Adrian. The rest of us. Magic. The chance to uncover their secrets. I know you love this life. Why would you give it up? You're too smart to get caught. We'll help you. Do you really think Marcus and his Merry Men can do that much fighting when they're always on the run?† I shook my head. â€Å"They're like me. They understand me.† She was obstinate. â€Å"They aren't like you at all. They talk. You act.† It was so surprising to see her like this, so confident and so much wiser than her years. It was also a little irritating. If she was so wise, why couldn't she understand how much was at stake? â€Å"Jill, staying is a big risk – in all ways.† â€Å"Of course it is!† she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger. â€Å"Any life worth living is going to have risks. If you go to Mexico, you'll regret it – and I think you know that.† My phone rang, cutting off my next response. It was Eddie. He rarely called, and panic seized me. â€Å"What's wrong?† I demanded. He sounded mystified. â€Å"I wouldn't say anything's wrong . . . just surprising. Is Jill with you? You guys should really come down. We're outside† He hung up, and I was left totally confused. â€Å"What's up?† asked Jill. â€Å"Something surprising, apparently.† She and I went down to the lobby, with no more mention of Adrian. When we stepped outside, we found Eddie and Angeline pointedly avoiding eye contact with each other. Standing near them was a tall, good-looking guy with neatly trimmed black hair and bright blue eyes. He wore a stern, serious expression and was scanning the area. â€Å"He's a dhampir,† Jill murmured to me. His eyes locked onto us at our approach, and that fierce look relaxed. â€Å"Jill, Sydney,† said Eddie. â€Å"This is Neil Raymond. He's going to be joining us here.† Neil swept Jill a bow so low, it was a wonder he didn't hit the ground. â€Å"Princess Jillian,† he said in a deep voice. â€Å"It's an honor to serve you, and I'll do so to the best of my abilities, even if it means sacrificing my own life.† Jill took a step back, her eyes wide as she took him in. â€Å"Th-thank you.† Eddie looked back and forth between them, a small frown appearing on his face. â€Å"Neil's been sent as backup. I guess you filed some complaint about Jill not having enough protection?† That was to me, and unless I was mistaken, there was an accusatory note in his voice. â€Å"No – I. Oh. I guess I kind of did.† When I'd been trying to do damage control with Stanton, one of my grievances had been that I never felt Jill was safe. I guess this was Stanton's response. It was surprising, just as Eddie had said, but more eyes on her couldn't hurt. From the way she was sizing Neil up, she certainly didn't seem to mind either. I shook his hand. â€Å"Nice to have you around, Neil. Are they passing you off as another cousin?† â€Å"Just a new student,† he said. That was probably just as well. Our â€Å"family† was in danger of taking over Amberwood. I would've liked to learn a little more about him, but my time was up. Marcus was picking me up soon to go to the train station, seeing as Latte had been declared totaled. I guess that was a different sort of closure, albeit a sad kind. I told them all goodbye as I left to get my suitcase, acting as though I just had to run an errand. Eddie, Angeline, and Jill knew the truth, and I could see the hurt and regret in their eyes – especially Jill. I prayed they'd be okay without me. When I came back downstairs, I found Jill was the only one still there. â€Å"I forgot to give you this,† she said, handing over a small envelope. My name was on the outside, and I recognized the writing. â€Å"I've been trying to get a hold of him and thought he might be avoiding me. This is his goodbye, huh?† I felt disappointed that I wouldn't be able to see Adrian in person one last time. Maybe a letter was better than nothing, but I wished I could have left with those beautiful eyes fresh in my mind. â€Å"Is he . . . is he really upset?† I couldn't stand the thought of him hurting. â€Å"Read the letter,† she said mysteriously. â€Å"And remember, Sydney. This isn't about me. This is about you guys. You can control everything else, but not this. Let go, and accept how you feel.† We left on that note, and I went outside to sit on the curb and wait for Marcus. I stared at the envelope, looking at the way Adrian had written my name. Three times I nearly opened it . . . but chickened out each time. Finally, I saw Marcus drive in, and the envelope disappeared into my purse. As soon as he picked me up, he began talking excitedly about the big plans ahead. I barely heard. All I kept thinking about was Adrian and how empty my life was going to seem without him. Marcus and I were meeting Wade and Amelia at the train station, but I couldn't picture any of them understanding me like Adrian – even if they were human and shared the same background. None of them would have his dry wit or uncanny insight. And simmering beneath all those emotions were the more heated memories . . . the way we'd kissed, the way it had felt to be wrapped up in him. . . . â€Å"Sydney? Are you even paying attention?† I blinked and glanced over at Marcus. I think it was another of those moments where he couldn't believe someone wasn't hanging on to his every word. â€Å"Sorry,† I said. â€Å"My mind's somewhere else.† He grinned. â€Å"Well, shift it to beaches and margaritas because your life's about to change.† It was always beaches and margaritas with him. â€Å"You left out the part about us sealing the tattoo. Unless your tattooist is also a bartender.† â€Å"There you go again, funny and beautiful.† He laughed. â€Å"We're going to have a great time.† â€Å"How long will we be down there?† â€Å"Well, we'll take care of the tattoos first. That's the most important thing.† I was relieved to see him taking that seriously. â€Å"Then we'll lie low, enjoy the sights for a few weeks. After that, we'll come back and follow some leads on other dissatisfied Alchemists.† â€Å"And then you'll repeat the process?† I asked. In the rear-view mirror, I could see the Palm Springs skyline disappearing as we drove north. I felt a pang of longing in my chest. â€Å"Get others to retrieve critical information and then free them?† â€Å"Exactly.† We drove in silence for another minute as I processed his words. â€Å"Marcus, what do you do with that information you gather? I mean, what are you going to do about Master Jameson?† â€Å"Keep finding more evidence,† he said promptly. â€Å"This is the biggest lead we've ever had. Now we can really push forward in finding out more.† â€Å"It's more than a lead. Why not leak it to the Moroi?† â€Å"The Alchemists would deny it. Besides, we don't want to be hasty.† â€Å"So what if they do deny it?† I demanded. â€Å"At least the Moroi will have a heads-up.† He glanced over at me with a look that reminded me of a parent trying to be patient with a child. Ahead of us, I saw a sign for the train station. â€Å"Sydney, I know you're eager, but trust me. This is the way we've always done things.† â€Å"I don't know that it's the right way, though.† â€Å"You have a lot of ideas for someone who just joined up.† He chuckled. I wished he'd stop doing that. â€Å"Just wait, and then you'll understand.† I didn't like his condescending attitude. â€Å"I think I already understand. And you know what? I don't think you guys do anything. I mean, you've uncovered some amazing information . . . but then what? You keep waiting. You run away and skulk around. How is this really helping? Your intentions are good . . . but that's all they are.† I could almost hear Jill's voice: They talk. You act. Ironically, Marcus was speechless. â€Å"You could do so much,† I continued. â€Å"When I first found out about you, you seemed to hold all the potential in the world. Technically, you still do. But it's being wasted.† He pulled into the train station's parking lot, still looking utterly stunned. â€Å"Where the hell is this coming from?† he asked at last. â€Å"Me,† I said. â€Å"Because I'm not like you guys. I can't do nothing. I can't run away. And . . . I can't go with you.† It felt good to say that . . . and it also felt right. All week, my brain had been telling me the right thing to do was to walk away before things with Adrian and the Alchemists blew up. And yes, that probably was the smart thing. My heart had never entirely been on board, but I'd tried to ignore it. It wasn't until I'd listened to both Jill and Marcus that I realized just this once, my brain might have to opt for the less logical solution. I had to give Marcus credit. He actually looked concerned and wasn't just put out at not getting his way. â€Å"Sydney I know how attached you are to this place and these people, but it's not safe for you here. It's not safe for you anywhere, not as long as the Alchemists are watching. Not as long as your tattoo is vulnerable.† â€Å"Someone told me any life worth living has risks,† I said, unable to hide a smile. I never thought I'd be quoting Jill. Marcus slammed his fist against the dashboard. â€Å"That's sentimental bullshit! It sounds good in theory, but the reality is completely different.† â€Å"What kind of reality could you have created if you'd stayed with the Alchemists?† I asked. â€Å"How much could you have uncovered?† â€Å"Nothing if I was caught,† he said flatly. â€Å"And no matter how useless you think we are, I've freed dozens of Alchemists. I've helped Clarence and other Moroi.† â€Å"You aren't useless, Marcus. You do good work, but we're just not on the same path, that's all. I'm staying and doing things my way. Isn't that what you said when we first met? Helping the Moroi on our own terms? These are mine.† â€Å"You're wasting your time!† â€Å"It's my time to waste,† I said. Adrian had said exactly the same thing to me on the flight to the wedding, when I'd told him he couldn't keep loving me. I felt bad for Marcus. I really did, especially since he'd truly been counting on me to come with him. He caught hold of my hand. â€Å"Sydney, please don't do this,† he begged. â€Å"No matter how confident you feel, no matter how careful you think you are, things will spiral out of control.† â€Å"They already have,† I said, opening the passenger door. â€Å"And I'm going to stop fighting them. Thank you for everything, Marcus. I mean it.† â€Å"Wait, Sydney,† he called. â€Å"Just tell me one thing.† I glanced back and waited. â€Å"Where did this come from? When you called me to tell me you were coming, you said you'd realized it was the smart thing to do. What made you change your mind?† I gave him a smile that I hoped was as dazzling as one of his. â€Å"I realized I'm in love.† Marcus, startled, looked around as though he expected to see my objet d'amour in the car with us. â€Å"And you just realized that? Did you just have some sort of vision?† â€Å"Didn't need to,† I said, thinking of Wolfe's ill-fated trip to the Orkneys. â€Å"It's always been right in front of me.†

Family Culture Change Essay

The depression era family culture demonstrated a close knit community which spent large amounts of time together (Craig 2006). Many families used to gather around the same radio and listen to entertainment or news and the fire side chats then President Roosevelt gave provided reassurance for a worried public (Craig 2006). The lifestyle of a nuclear family with close contacts has developed to a fast paced world where family members frequently do not communicate regularly leading to alternative groups settings (Koesten, Miller, & Hummert 2001). Information on divergent lifestyles is now easily accessible to people which influences behavior (Koesten, Miller & Hummert 2001). The radio was introduced as a communication and entertainment medium during the great depression (Craig 2006). The radio provided instant access to news and weather in addition to the entertainment value it provided (Craig 2006). Entire families would gather around the radio during the evening and spend quality time together (Craig 2006). Businesses used the radio advertisements to lure the public in to considering buying purchases that were not considered prior to the advent of the radio (Craig 2006). Despite the economic hardships created by the great depression households who owned radios increased from 30% in 1930 to 70% in 1940 (Craig 2006). In 1940 the foundation had but formed for the future technology revolution that is present today (Craig 2006). This is where the perception of the current American consumer started that buying a product would solve all of one’s problems (Craig 2006). Today’s United States population now has a variety of electronic devices such as cell phones and computers enabling true access on demand to information and entertainment (Koesten, Miller, & Hummert 2001). The multiple methods of communication available to the average American today can foster unhealthy influences on behavior which can result in unhealthy consequences (Koesten, Miller, & Hummert 2001). People today spend more time communicating with others outside their immediate family with jobs, activities, and socialization than within the family unit (Koesten, Miller, & Humert 2001). The behavior of children from this generation will be influenced more by society than parentally which will impact the behavior displayed (Koesten, Miller, & Hummert 2001). The familial influence has been replaced by peer influence which has decreased the importance of family within today’s culture (Koesten, Miller & Hummer 2001).   This decreased emphasis on familial communication has lead to increased peer pressure which results in a greater likelihood of risk taking behaviors (Koesten, Miller, & Hummert 2001). This feeling of isolation has resulted in a dramatic increase in depression resulting from the loss of close family contact (Paxton, Valois, Watkins, Huebner, & Drane 2007). A depressed mood is different from clinical depression and is described as a feeling of sadness, lasting from a couple of hours to days (Paxton, Valois, Watkins, Huebner, & Drane 2007). Clinical depression is defined as sadness lasting at least two weeks that interferes with the activities of daily life (Paxton, Valois, Watkins, Huebner, & Drane 2007). People who are depressed are more likely to engage in behaviors that are hazardous to one’s health (Paxton, Valois, Watkins, Huebner, & Drane 2007). Due to this family isolation and depression unnatural death has become the leading cause of adolescents and has increased dramatically recently (Anonymous 1987). Substance abuse has become more prevalent which has resulted in significant morbidity in the adolescent and young adult population (Anonmyous 1987). These problems did not exist in the epidemic proportions they do today because despite the multiple modalities available to communicate with family society communicates less than in the depression era. References: Anonymous (1987). Health Risk Behaviors. Pediatrics. 80 (1) 144-147. Retrieved on December 20, 2008 from the ebscohost database. Craig, S. (2006). The More they Listen, The More They Buy. Agricultural History. 80 (1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1-16. Retrieved on December 20, 2008 from the ebscohost database. Koesten, J., Miller, K. I., Hummert, M. L. (2001). Family Communication, Self Efficacy, and White Female Adolescent Risk Behavior. Journal of family Communication 2 (1) 7-27. Retrieved on December 20, 2008 from the ebscohost database. Paxton, R. J., Valois, R. F., Watkins, K. W., Huebner, E. S., Drane, J. W. (2007) Association Between Depressed Moods and Clusters of Health Risk Behaviors. American Journal of Health Behavior 31 (3) 272-283. Retrieved on December 20, 2008 from the ebscohost database.

Hamlet: Divine Intervention and the Natural Order Essay

The first part of the theory is that of Divine Intervention – this being the easier of the two parts to explain. This works off the idea that some manner of God or All-Powerful Force does actually exist. Divine Intervention is, therefore, the notion that this God can manipulate the world either through direct or indirect action. In the text and film, for instance, the Ghost comes as a messenger from this God, motivating Hamlet to do its will. This is both an example of direct divine intervention – in the appearance of the Ghost; and indirect divine intervention – as the God uses Hamlet to carry out its deeds. The second part of the concept is the Natural Order of the world. This can be brought down to its base form as: ‘What is supposed to happen.’ Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple. The Natural Order exists always, however is not always followed. This ‘breaking away’ from the Order is usually the result of Human Intervention, developing one of two outcomes. These are: either the Natural Order is re-aligned, or the world remains a corrupt and terrible place until such time as the first outcome is realised. So, the world is repaired, or an unending loop of badness ensues until it is. In the play, the Order was broken when Claudius killed King Hamlet, and from the opening lines the ‘wrongness’ that lingers in the air is noted, setting the mood for the remainder of the play: â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢tis bitter cold and I am sick at heart.† (I,1,8-9) said Francisco as he was relieved from watch-duty. Also, in the film, these words are greatly aided in their purpose by the images of snow-covered Denmark. Another line, in the fourth act: â€Å"something is rotten in the state of Denmark† (I.4.67) reaffirms this mood and goes further to place Francisco’s sickness at heart down to a rottenness in Denmark. Now, how the world is realigned with the Natural Order is the link back to the first part of the concept: Humans are the creatures, knowingly or unknowingly, that fix the problems that throw the world out of Order in the  first place. In Hamlet, this is the case. Without Divine Intervention, however, Denmark would have remained in a state of malaise: The Ghost, you see, gave Hamlet the one piece of information that was needed to manipulate him into action: That his father, King Hamlet, had been murdered. With this knowledge, Hamlet was able to mould his grief into anger – albeit slowly – and fulfill the will of the God by realigning the Natural Order in Denmark. There are two parallels running: the first from King Fortinbras to Fortinbras and the second from King Hamlet to Hamlet. Both are disrupted, causing not one, but two interlocking lines of Natural Order to be upset. This is, perhaps, the reason Divine Intervention was necessary to fix it; Claudius’s murder of King Hamlet gave him power not only over Denmark, but Poland also. As can be seen, the major character that the concept of Divine Intervention and Natural Order can be related to is, or course, Hamlet. He is the most interconnected character in the text; the manipulated being used indirectly by God, and also the one to realign the natural order. But why? This quote, from Philip Edwards, explains: â€Å"What is unendurable to heaven is not to be endured by men. Evil is not ineradicable, and heaven may appoint an agent of its justice to pluck it out – Hamlet.† Thus, Hamlet is Divine Justice, charged by the Ghost of his Father – a messenger from God – to cleanse Denmark of evil. â€Å"Revenge his foul and unnatural murder.† (I,5,71) And he goes about it with a passion. From Philip Edward’s essay this quote is taken: â€Å"The voice he hears gives him his mission, which he rapidly expands into a cleansing of the world, a setting right of disjointed time. As the scourge and minister of heaven, he willfully seeks his own salvation by flailing others with his tongue for their moral inadequacies and redirecting their lives as he moves forward to a killing which will re-baptise the state of Denmark.† To which I add, not just one, but seven killings. The realignment of the Natural Order is realised in the final scene in the  final act, just before Hamlet’s death: â€Å"The rest is silence.† (V,2) As there is no definite in-text acknowledgement that the Natural Order was upset, conclusions can be drawn from other lines, the descriptor of rottenness in Demark being one of them. And so it is that, although there is no line saying â€Å"The world is now in alignment with the Natural Order†, we can say â€Å"The rest is silence† is the realisation that the world is right again. There is no more chaos, no trouble, just peace – usually equated with silence and calm. The major impact of the Divine Intervention and Natural Order theory is upon the audience’s perception of the play after its conclusion. The dominant view taken is that Hamlet, although achieving his goal of revenge, caused a chaotic mess of death that was, in itself, meaningless. This view lends itself to a play-given moral of ‘revenge is bad’ or some other similarly droll statement of absolutes. When applying the text to the Natural Order theory, the deaths of the six apparently innocent characters – Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Laertes, Rosencrantz and Gildenstern – can be justified. All were wronged by Claudius’s misdeed, all were in the wrong in some part, and thus, all had been moved out of the Natural Order – even if it was without choice. Their deaths are integral to the realignment of the Order; if they remain, the corruption lingers also. In death, they are no longer tools of Claudius – who is the cause of the disruption – and do not obstruct Hamlet’s duty as divine justice. Rather than a purposeless bloodbath, the deaths of the six were actually a necessity to achieving peace and new Order: Gertrude had married her brother-in-law, and it is quite likely had been seeing him before the death of King Hamlet. Incest, in the time of Hamlet (and, of course, in the current time) was looked upon with great distaste and marrying one’s brother-in-law was seen as incest – unlike now. Rosencrantz and Gildenstern had been enlisted by Claudius to spy on Hamlet and gauge his madness. Spying is an immoral act, and their doing so, even if enlisted by Claudius, put them in line for a cosmic spanking. Polonius had spied on Hamlet as well as having plotted with Claudius to partake in many misdeeds. His faults are, perhaps, the most blatant. Laertes, after the death of his father, consents to follow the whim of Claudius and poison Hamlet. A big mistake, for he ends up taking the life of another human – a cardinal sin. Lastly, Ophelia; although there is no hard evidence in the play, she may have slept with Hamlet. If this is the case, and sex before marriage is her â€Å"wrong†, then Shakespeare’s search for evil – and successive eradication of it – was very thorough. As well as altering the perception of the audience, the play itself can be viewed in a new light: Shakespeare’s Hamlet had yet another underlying meaning. Along with concepts of revenge, ambition, love, marriage, gender, class structure, morality, betrayal and deceit, appearances and reality and madness, the idea that evil does not go unpunished can be expounded to include God as a punisher, hunting down every little transgression and demanding payment in triplicate; payable with ones eternal soul. Finally, â€Å"what about Hamlet’s death?† I hear you ask. Charged with the responsibility of divine justice, it would seem wrong that he should die, right? His death was one big accident, occurring because Laertes was persuaded by Claudius to poison the sword he used to fight Hamlet. No. Such a simple and†¦ slack answer does not support the theory of Divine Intervention and Natural Order. Hamlet’s death was also necessary to fixing a jaded world. As can be seen from the flowchart, King Fortinbras’ power passed to King Hamlet with his death – not to Fortinbras as must be assumed it would have. When Claudius gained power, not one, but two Kings had been wronged – their command stolen by evil. Hamlet dying, after killing Claudius and retrieving the power of the Kings, was the final piece in the puzzle. Control passed to Fortinbras – the only major character not to have committed acts of†¦ poor judgement (to put it lightly), and the Natural Order was truly repaired. Both Denmark and Poland had a ruler of integrity and the eternal loop of badness could be overcome, allowing the world to move into new times of industry and wonder. Bibliography: Coyle, M., (ed.) (1992) Hamlet: Contemporary Critical Essays, Macmillan Education Ltd, London. Muir, K., Wells, S., (ed.) (1980) Aspects of Hamlet, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Shakespeare, W., (ed.) Ridley, M. R., (1964) The Tragedy of Hamlet, Mackays of Chatham. Stockton, C. L., (2000) CliffsNotes on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Wiley Publishing Inc., New York.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE TELEGRAM IN THE UK Research Paper

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE TELEGRAM IN THE UK - Research Paper Example To the Victorians, the telegraph was a symbol of man’s power over nature. The Telegraph became a special tool that enabled and enhanced commercial and imperial expansion. Morus (2000) observes that it was not by coincidence that the financial speculators became the first and most prolific users of the telegraph. Moruss observation reveals the economic significance of the Telegraph. The telegraph was also an important tool to the military that came to know of its potentials soon after its invention (Conboy & Steel, 2015). The Telegraph penetration was happening in the time of Crimean War in the mid-1950s. The telegraph enabled the military to get access to front-line events. In general, the introduction of the telegraph broke down the barriers of space and time. The telegraph provided the United Kingdom community with an intelligence-gathering capacity which translated into economic value. The adoption of the telegraph has been summarized well in the words of Morus (2000) who named it â€Å"The nervous system of Britain.† This study looks into the economic influence that the telegraph made in the United Kingdom. For the UK population, the telegraph held out boundless potentials. With the introduction of the telegraph, Britain was able to gain control of its colonies. Britain gained an upper hand over other colonizers when it came to controlling several colonies. A connection exists between the telegraph and the expansion and consolidation of British colonial power in the nineteenth century (Conboy & Steel, 2015). The Imperial system of the telegraph communication created efficient communications between the British government and its colonial possessions. Telegraph both shortened communication times between countries of the Empire and centralized control in Whitehall. The shortening of communication times reduced the autonomy of colonial administrators. Morus (2000) argues that the telegraph played a crucial role in imperial expansion. The colonialist Britain

Utilitarianism on Terminating Employees versus Truthful Environmental Essay

Utilitarianism on Terminating Employees versus Truthful Environmental Reporting - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that a rule utilitarian might assert that the best rule is one that favors shareholder interests in the long run which entails following government policies about emission levels because doing so protects the latter’s long-term interest. A company cannot exist and will not stay long without shareholders, so their happiness matters the most in this scenario. Furthermore, thinking about their interests can also satisfy the interests of workers for having lasting jobs, so this rule is not entirely bad for the interest of the many. However, shareholder happiness must not be based on temporary goal fulfillment but on long-term interests. John Stuart Mill asserts that the quality of happiness matters in making the right decisions. He believes that humans are rational creatures who use â€Å"higher faculties† and â€Å"nobler feelings† to make the best decisions for their happiness. This case demands high-level thinking about th e long-term good of shareholders which includes not breaking laws. If the author will not publish the report and the environmental agency of the department finds out that the emission levels next year surpass the legal limits, the government will close factory operations which will detrimentally affect shareholders and employees alike.   The decision to publish the report is important in ensuring that the company will follow policies on emissions levels and find the best technology to comply with them.   A rule utilitarian might suggest going ahead and publishing the report so that the company can prepare for buying the latest technology, even if it is expensive because it will prevent future problems that will harm shareholder interest more.

Faculty of Business Environment and Society 2 Essay

Faculty of Business Environment and Society 2 - Essay Example based on the principle that managing employees in a multinational environment increases complexities for the managers unless there is a uniform set of policies to govern the diversified workforce. In this regard, Du Plessis and Beaver (2008) mentioned that companies operating in multiple markets across the world should not engage in changing the pay and work conditions of the employees as it may create discrepancies among the employees of various sector. This statement will be analysed in the following sections of the essay in reference to the changes and the challenges in managing the human resource departments of the multinational organisations. Buckley and Monks (2004) noted that previously reward and compensations structures of a company were formed depending on the financial stability and the profit earning ability of companies with short-term focus. However, now as firms are trying to formulate strategies for developing long-term benefits and employee needs and expectations perform an important role in this system. According to the studies of Greer (2010), the role of the human resource management processes is to ensure that an organisation has the necessary resources for achieving their organisational objectives. The primary considerations behind the HRM strategies should be to focus on the requirements of the organisation and align the interests of the employees with the organisational needs. Kozami (2008) stated that in the contemporary scenario, the business processes of the firms include the aspect of sustainable business practices along with improved productivity and performance from the workforce of the firms. He nce, in order to motivate and encourage the employee, compensation and rewards structures are used as a primary method. Considering the approach of work structure of the multinational firms, cultural diversity is an integral part of their work force which also enhances the need for the managers for designing the HRM framework based on the

Explain the importance of the liver in detoxificationexcretion and teh Essay

Explain the importance of the liver in detoxificationexcretion and teh function of the immune, digestive, endocrine and cardiovascular systems and hence in hum - Essay Example Each capillary then leads into a lobule. Liver tissue is collection of thousands of such lobules. These lobules are made up of hepatic cells which are the basic metabolic cells of the liver (MamasHealth.com, 2000). The liver is a complex organ. It performs over 500 different functions. Some of the functions include: to produce substances that break down fats, convert glucose to glycogen, produce urea which is the main substance of urine, make certain amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins, filter harmful substances from the blood such as alcohol, storage of vitamins and minerals (vitamins A, D, K and B12) and maintain a proper level or glucose in the blood. The liver is also responsible for producing cholesterol and it is estimated that it produces about 80% of the cholesterol in the body (MamasHealth.com, 2000). Among these functions the two of most important functions is to control of amino acid concentration and detoxification. Urea is produced in the liver and is a metabolite of amino acids. Ammonium ions are produced due to the breakdown of amino acids. And these ammonium ions are used in the biosynthesis of nitrogen compounds and excess ammonium ions are converted to urea (Royal Society of Chemistry, N.D.). The liver's basic functions are three fold: Vascular, Secretory and Metabolic. In other words it plays an important role in the major systems of the body, particularly in the digestive, circulatory and endocrine systems of the human body. In simple terms the vascular function includes being a major blood reservoir, filtering over a liter of blood every minute. The liver effectively removes bacteria, endotoxins, antibody complexes and various other particles from the circulation. The liver is one of the most vital organs in the body when it comes to detoxifying or getting rid of toxins. The liver plays a key role in most metabolic processes, particularly detoxification. The liver neutralizes a broad range of toxic chemicals, both those produced inside the body and those coming from the external environment. In human system the normal metabolic processes produce a wide range of chemicals and hormones and it is worth mentioning that the liver has evolved as an efficient neutralizing mechanisms. If it was not for the liver, then our bodies would have been full of toxics and would have become very difficult for the survival. There is tremendous change in the environment in recent years and it is continuously pumped with toxic chemicals every day. Human beings are as a result exposed to these chemicals. The food we eat is contaminated with pesticides, the air we breathe contains several poisonous gases, and the water we drink has chemicals. In other words many of the toxic chemicals come from the environment: the content of the bowels and the food, water, and air. The harmful polycyclic hydrocarbons such as DDT, dioxin, 2,3-D, PCB, 2,4,5-T and PCP are the basic components of various herbicides and pesticides. And these are example of chemicals that are now found in almost all fat tissues measured. Even those eating unprocessed organic foods need an effective detoxification system because all foods contain naturally occurring toxic constituents. Hence in all these cases liver plays the most important role of detoxification. The liver plays these vital roles in detoxification through the following processes: it filters the blood to remove large toxins, synthesizes

Gender Portrayals in Modern Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Gender Portrayals in Modern Art - Essay Example The essay "Gender Portrayals in Modern Art" investigates gender portrayals in the modern art. This essay is based on the gender concept and the issues that have had an immense influence on the way gender in modern art is perceived and portrayed. To begin with, one needs to differentiate between modern, post modern and contemporary in order to understand the journey charted by gender portrayal in art over the ages. The modern portrayals of art depend to a great extent on the stereotypical depictions of features within art, while post modern depends on the vertical rather than the horizontal, which is a case of portraying a traditional feature in a new light. The contemporary period can be considered to possess a number of artists that can be considered of substance and grace in the corresponding field. This particular era in history was marked by the upsringing of various trends in arts and the foray of women and other unlikely sections of the society into the world of art. Mary Kelly is one of the artists of the contemporary period. She is known to be a feminist and fighting an important advocacy through her works. Femminism became a strong benchmark for the society in that particular period, which can be seen through the various art forms and literature created at that time. Unlike the modern times, feminism was not reflected in policy changes as yet and was still confined to mere forms of expression. This was one of the key features of Mary Kelly’s life as has been discussed below. ... After her undergraduate course in Arts, she studied her Masters in Arts in the European Region (Felsen, 2008). There are different works that are considered as significant in her career. One is the exhibit presented in the Rosamund Felsen Gallery which can be considered as a recent work. Kelly is known to present underlying messages in her work specifically pointing out to her topics of inclination such as cultural principles specifically pertaining to femininity. Art and Mass Media by Betty Ann Brown is a volume that chronicles the rise of western culture in context of its influence on art. This has been studied from the perspective of various art forms, ancient, medieval and modern so as to demonstrate how cultures are capable of affecting art forms and rendering finer detail to the structure in terms of gender portrayal as well as sexuality in art. (Brown, 2005; P 2 - 4). The volume has conceptualised the way art has been seen and used since 1985 with the advent of mass media and especially the Internet. This conceptualisation has reached a phase where the influx of ideas related with the use of technology and mass media has grown to such heights where it accommodates a whole new dimension of art in terms of gender portrayals. It is said that the way something is built has a large bearing on how it is perceived. In the case of art, the use of mass media has accentuated the play of technology and the portrayal of genders to the extent that the very way that an art form is conceptualised depends on the factors that are a part of the culture surrounding it. Since 1985, the play of mass media has begun on a note that has created the scope to create gender in art beyond what has been seen in the conventional sense. The rise

Biometrics as an Important Part of Information Technology Essay

Biometrics as an Important Part of Information Technology - Essay Example The present study focuses on an understanding of the use of biometrics and the commercial factors associated with it along with the current trends in its growth and use. The Growing Need and Application of Biometrics: Need for Privacy and Security: In the present times, the use of information technology has increased to a great extent that calls for the need of privacy and security of all data and information that computers and other network systems hold. The use of biometrics has benefitted in the way it is capable of restricting the access of any unauthorized individual such that any kind of frauds may be prevented. The biometric systems are extensively used in military services as well as for governmental purposes. The applications of these systems are made available to the common people and hence can be found in use for prison visitor systems, driver’s licenses, administration of canteen, benefit payment systems, border control measures, voting systems as well as in areas of junior schooling. Future applications of these systems are also being considered to be made available in the use of ATM machines, workstation and network access, travel and tourism, public identity cards, telephone transactions, and internet transactions (Biometrics, n.d.). Strong methods of identity authentication enabled through digital transmission can be understood to be of great need thus raising the use of biometrics. With the world moving towards an era where cashless economy prevails in most cases, with the selling and buying being often taking place electronically, biometrics would prove to be real essential and beneficial in the near future (Willis, 2009, pp.103-129). Biometrics: A Trend in Authentication Technology: Overview: The future trends in the use of biometric technology and process can be clearly understood from the technique being publicized as the universal remedy for theft of identity, frauds in use of credit card, network hacking, terrorism, privacy being a ttacked, misuse of one’s personal information and all other atrocious things and crimes happening in the 21st-century that can be expected to occur if someone else influences a computer or a network system. The present century has effectively realized that traditional authentication measures like the use of passwords and pins are not enough in the current times to protect and secure important information that are stored in network systems. The need for measurement of physiological features has thus become highly necessary, that is provided by biometrics. Analysis of fingerprints, voices, retinas enable a proper authentication measurement since these features are unique to every individual. Thus once these are recorded in the system, they can be compared in order to determine the access of the correct person. â€Å"This type of authentication is considered to have more integrity than photo ID and username/password systems because even sophisticated fake IDs, clever social eng ineering and lazy security habits can't compromise it† (Haas, 2004). The overall benefits of biometrics technology have been obtained in authentication, control in access and attendance, control in travelling, in financial and other transactions, remote voting, is use of automatic working devices, and action control.  

Louisiana Historical Sites Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Louisiana Historical Sites - Article Example Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, the Centenary State Historic Site holds some of the buildings of the College of Louisiana, which opened in 1826 at Jackson. Though it was not a successful college, with only 24 men graduating from it, however, during the Civil War the buildings of the college were used by both factions. The Union soldiers used it as their area headquarters, whereas the Confederate troops used it as a hospital. This site is historically significant because it gives a glimpse into education in the 19th century, as well as the early history of Jackson and its foundation, and, finally, into the medicine practiced during the Civil War. Established as a military outpost, Fort Jesup, or Cantonment Jesup as it was originally called, operated from 1822 to 1846. The Fort was placed at the Neutral Strip, which was created because of a dispute between Spain and the United States arising out of the Louisiana Purchase – the land in contention was proclaimed a Neutral Strip with no interference or presence of the armed forces of either country. However, Texas was won over by the United States, the fort was rendered unnecessary. Even though only a kitchen remains of the original structure, however, the reconstructed site renders insight into what life was like at the outposts. As the soldiers there were involved with the American settlers, the visitors can also learn much about how the lands were surveyed, roads built and treaties negotiated during those days. The Locust Grove State Historic Site consists of a cemetery which was owned by the sister of Jefferson Davis, Anna E. Davis Smith, and her family. Some semi-famous people from history are buried here. The daughter of General Zachary Taylor, who was the first commander of Fort Jesup, is also buried here, as is General Eleazer Wheelock Ripley who served in the war of 1812. The visitors to the site can learn about the cemeteries of 19th

Thresher Sinking Atlantic Ocean (1963) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Thresher Sinking Atlantic Ocean (1963) - Essay Example The disaster is also blamed on an electrical fault that saw vital pumps stop working. Known to be the worst submarine accident in U.S. history, engineers have learnt a lot from the event. Engineers have learnt the importance of upholding standards and procedures, testing procured materials, and prioritizing safety over other factors when it comes to designing and building products. Sinking of the Thresher in the Atlantic Ocean in 1963 Introduction Engineers are credited for designing different machines, equipment and structures that serve to overcome certain specific problems. As they undertake their works, engineers go to great depths to ensure that whatever they design work as efficiently as possible. Understanding the risks that their designs may pose to the public and infrastructure, they often do a lot of calculations and incorporate safety measures wherever they can in their designs. Furthermore, they are tasked with choosing materials that have properties that match the functi ons for which they are to be used. In as much as engineers do their best to ensure that what they design and make work without failing, this is not always the case. Sometimes, engineering systems fail leading to massive losses. One case of failure that resulted from an engineering error is the sinking of Thresher submarine in the Atlantic Ocean. ... Navy at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Bentley, 1975). The submarine, which was at its time, the most advanced, was engaged in several sea trials in the Caribbean sea and the Atlantic Ocean between 1961 and 1962 only to prove its prowess as a war machine. The machine was so technologically advanced that it was rated the fastest and quietest submarine ever to be built in the world then, specifically dedicated to searching and destroying Soviet submarines (Bentley, 1975). Its sonar system had the capacity to detect ships and other submarines as far away as other submarines could not detect. Furthermore, it was installed with a highly technical weapons system which included the newest anti-submarine missile that the U.S. Navy had – the SUBROC. Apart from these amazing characteristics, the Thresher could dive far below any other machine of its ilk. Having been hit by a tug that damaged its ballast tanks while moored at Port Canaveral, Florida, it was necessary for the Thresher to undergo repairs, have its systems examined and before it could be fully certified for use during operations. After the submarine was finally certified to be operational, it was set to undergo routine tests on April, 9, 1963 (Bentley, 1975). Under the command of Lieutenant Commander John Wesley Harvey, the ship left the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine in the company of a rescue ship, Skylark, at 8 am. The rescue vessel accompanied the Thresher so that it could provide rescue services to those onboard the submarine in case of any problem. The Skylark had the capacity to provide rescue services to the submarine up to a maximum depth of about 850 feet (Bentley, 1975). The submarine

Autobiography - original writing Essay Example for Free

Autobiography original writing Essay I had five months to sort out my work experience placement and thought that I had more than enough time in which to do so. Before long, however, I was called to Mr Williamss office, the man in charge of finalising the work experience. I had just found out that I had overnight to get a placement somewhere, otherwise Ill be stuck in school with year 9 for the week. My ideal placement would be something to do with sports because thats my favourite subject in school but I knew I couldnt find somewhere and get a reply all in one night. The only placement I knew I could go without having to wait for a reply was with my mother! My mother works at Cardiff University in the Biochemistry Unit. Im still not sure exactly what she does, but I think its something along the lines of teaching and researching into cells. Before I knew it work experience had almost arrived. It was very tense around the house; I suppose I was excited because I didnt have a clue what I was going to be doing and also a little scared for the same reason. The first morning was pretty easy because I had no dress code, and as my mother is her own boss, I had no strict hours either. Also I didnt have to be polite around my mother, so I could just be my self. I was sort of expecting it to be boring working with my mother but nothing could prepare me for what I did on my first day. My first chore of the day was to fill, empty, sterilise and prepare bottles for other people. This wasnt very challenging, so I got bored quickly. In the afternoon my mum noticed I was bored, so let me do the jobs she hates. Firstly, she made me sort out the bookshelves in her office. This included sorting out a 6ft long shelf full of catalogues, into alphabetical order and to date. The earliest being from 1992. After finishing that, she put my keyboard skills to good use by making me type out the register on the computer for four of her classes. At the end of my first day I was disappointed for not having had a fun day. I also felt worried in case my whole week would be this boring. The second day was a little bit more challenging. In the morning I had to draw pictures on a computer for my mothers poster. This was irritating because nothing was perfect enough for her. She kept on making me change the smallest details, and I realised that day that she was the fussiest person I knew, but the finished product managed to satisfy her. In the afternoon I worked with my mothers friend, Mike Turner, who works in the Electro Microscopy Unit in the university. This is where they take pictures with really big powerful microscopes. At first I was quite shy because Ive never met him before. I suppose I was expecting him to be a shy brainy man that wouldnt really talk to me. On the contrary, he would not stop talking and make jokes. I felt like I could talk to him easy and that made me feel comfortable beeing there. He sat me down by one of the microscopes and made me look at bugs and flowers through it. This was different and I enjoyed it more than my mothers office, although it got boring after a while sitting in front of a screen just looking at bugs. On the third day, I met another of my mothers friends, Guy Pitt. He is a photographer and developer in the university. I wasnt that nervous because my older sister did the same for her work experience and told me he was the best man to work with, and he was by far the best person who looked after me that week because he thought about what I might like to do. He gave me an expensive camera and sent me around town to take photos of anything. I took pictures of Cardiff Castle and animals like birds and squirrels. In the afternoon I met Mike Turner again and took pictures of cells with his microscope camera. Although he was enthusiastic about the cells I didnt find them that interesting and just pretended to like the pictures I took. The fourth day was the best day of the week. I was in Guys hands for the day. I met him in the morning and he gave me the camera with a new film and sent me to town again and told me to return at two oclock. In town I met a lot of my friends and went shopping and took pictures of a burnt building that was in ruins. When I returned we changed the films into negatives in the dark room by using all sorts of chemicals, and let them dry for Friday. On Friday, Guy and I changed the negatives into real pictures. He was very impressed with the pictures I took of the burnt building and asked if he could keep some. This made me feel good of my self and made me consider a career in photography, maybe sport photography. We finished by eleven oclock so he gave me the afternoon off and I went home. I enjoyed the experience despite having doubts about it at the beginning of the week. The best part of the week was working with Guy, he really made me think about my career.

Case Study Career Aspirations Analysis Education Essay

Case Study Career Aspirations Analysis Education Essay A career is a job market as well as of the individual career seekers interest and skill. By examining the job market, those interested in careers can learn what jobs are available and in demand now and what jobs will be available and in demand in the future. Career in essence is a series of related jobs towards the fulfillment of a set of individual goals that provide a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. My career aspiration is be to be a General Manager. To fulfill my needs, I have to do a lot of thing to get it. There are four general individual characteristics affect how people make career choices, which is Interest where they believe match their interest, Self-image where an extension of a persons self image as well as molder of it, Personality which is personal orientation and personal needs and lastly Social backgrounds which is social economic status, educational and occupation level of a persons parents. Yes I choose my career from this characteristic. I believe in myself that one day Ill be general manager. This is because my believed is really matched what I want to be in future. The type of company that I would like to work is in a international company. It because by working there I can challenge myself to achieved my goals. This has been a aspiration for me since Im small to be general manager. This is because most of my family members are working in high post in a big c ompany. So I said to myself that one day I also want to be like them. I knew something about this high post general manager from my family members, they told me and teach me some important. I have choose this because I want my personal looks to be formal, in a very standard way. By working in this area I can gain more knowledge  because of the rapid change and growth in the business where most business is going global now days. In that, I also can gain more profit faster if the business that Im doing is successful. According to John Hollands theories, the personality types and working environment has been divided into six types which is realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. Investigative gives more interest in intellectual activities where it must be a idea and theories for someone who does a work. Enterprising is a type concerned with action and with achieving result through other people, enjoy leading and persuading for an entrepreneur and representative. This both theories really suits me because I have the criteria in it. Besides that, Career Anchors by Edger Schein function also had suits me. This career wants a person perception about his or her own talents, motive and values tended to evolve into a relatively stable pattern. Identifying ones area of contribution in the long run, this has inspire my career in working in a managerial role. I also like to learn more than one thing after fully understanding the first thing. I like to move forward every ti me and gain extra knowledge in new field. I strongly decided that this field that Im choosing for my career is well suits with my personality test. In that test my result is ENFJ. I really concern about myself when Im out with people because Im harmonious. Im very respect person, harmony, and loyal to thing that I do. I will take a risk to do job, because I want to achieve my goal and I know I have to take a risk. If I really cannot take it something that has fail my success I will regret it and will ignore it. I know by doing that I can try for second time. But it will be a bit had for the first time to hear the truth. I will be happy if I get to create something new where it can give me a lot of profit in my life. Im also ready to hear about others problem because I have the ability to solve problem. Sometimes I will confused whether which decision shall I take, but after reading all the thing carefully I will take my decision, and I wont follows others in that. 1.2 Skill Required When choosing an occupation it is very important to be skillful. Skill can be divided into basic skills and related skills. When talking about related skills we can discuss on the skills that are related to the specific job. Basic skills that are needed to be in a job can be similar to one another but will different when it comes to carrying out a specific task. The basic skills that have in myself is athletics. I can do coaching, team sport and individual sport. I have a football skill. I start coaching long time ago by helping my school teacher to train his team. Other than that, my communication skill is very good. My grammar, speaking style, listening and writing is also good. I practice my listening from other people talk and talking on phone and also talk good English to all my friends. This is how I practice my communication skills. A outdoors activities skills like farming and animal care is my aspiration skill. I learn farming from my dad, in he will always do farming and I will help him and from here I got the skill. The related skill that I have choose to be General Manager is organizing, making decision, managing time, solving problem, leading and owing or operating a business. I used to make own decision at times at college. Its like a group of my friends planning something and I will make a decision and they will listen to me. I will be on time if I go out. I want to be a good time making if I go out. This will practice me when I start my work in future. Solving a problem is my main concern, because I used to solve many of mime and my friend problem very well. I dont this to be happened very often in life. Sometimes I will lead my brothers business, he will tell me what to do and not. Im creative in making idea and very imaginative. A skill of a General Manager can be more diverse and be more general in nature to classify in any area of management or administration. The other skill that may see of a General Manager is personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. In some organizations, the duties of general and operations managers may overlap the duties of chief executive officers. By looking at these related skills of being General Manager it is seen that I have to improve and develop myself so I could achieve my career development goal and aims in future. When being a General manger it is very important for an individual to be knowledgeable and wide thinking so in any consequence the companys growth will not decline. 1.3(a) Strength Looking at my strong educational background, I have completed my Foundation Studies in Business 1 year ago and now Im doing my degree in International Business. From here I have the knowledge of the theories which I have studied for foundation. I can contribute my knowledge to others because I have the strength to do so. Below is my strength: Very punctual Creative Able to do something without anyone help Understanding in everything Friendly to everyone Very hardworking Good listener Good in creating Ideas Brave in doing anything Good in resolving problem Good in handling problem Good in giving Counseling Maintain thing well Managing time Tolerant Being a good group leader Looking at all my Strength, I have done everything at above and I know that I can do that. this is because being a good group leader can bring me to the top of leader board for a management. I can handle and solve complains, diversify works to my members, being patience and also calm down any serious situation. This is the most important characteristics needed by a good group leader. I know from here becoming a group leader will bring me to success when I become General Manager. A General Manager also will have all kind of this job working together and gain more things from it. In college, a task I given to us by our lecture and we need to choose 1 group leader. They had selected me as group leader because I have the ability to work hard, to things together, and also can solve problem if my members dont know. Other than that, I can be a good listener, member will talk and I will listen to them. Punctual is the key word, I used to be very early and will push my friends to reach at col lege early to start our work, and they listen to me. This is because Im the group leader so I feel proud and this will happen when I become a General Manager. 1.3(b) My Weakness Like to do things very fast without knowing it Language Problem Do work at last minute Take things easily My main weakness is my language problem. At college when I talk to Chinese student from China, they wont really understand English. They can only speak in Chinese language. This is what my main problem, because it might give an effect to me in future when Im dealing with customer. To solve this problem, I have to start learn English. In order for me to communicate with them, I must take sometimes to get to know them well. Section 2 Experience 1: Working After finish my SPM (secondary educational level), I worked at my uncle office as admin officer. I worked there for almost 4months before joining Stamford College. My work at first is to check all the old report and then have to clean it up. It was fun working at that way. After that I has given a task to work out with 1 employee regarding about his work. From here I really gain a lot of profit knowledge. Although I dont have knowledge about the work Im doing, but I had been guided by my uncle. Microsoft word and excel is the main subject for my working period. I have to list down the company rough account with guides from my uncle. I learn how to improve language while working, my computer skill been improve and also has solve a problem without telling to my uncle. It really gave me the exposure of office life where it increases more interest to remain in this particular field where I can actually prosper. During my working period I learn a lot of thing and it has gave me a working life style. Dress code everyday must be formal and its like a practice for me in future. When we study we dont exactly get the picture of working life. I learn to be more responsible where it really help me to organize myself. By learning all this skills I can always improve my skills because it is very important at least to have this basic requirement. For my working experience, this has gave me roughly idea how to manage myself and this can help me to my future career aspiration as a General Manager. Experience 2: Student As a student I have learn how to do my assignment without others help, exam, presentation and group project. Every subject at college has a task of assignment to do. This is given to student is because, they want student to learn doing things together and in group. For assignment, I will do research in web and find details about the task. Exam is where we will train our self to see how far we have learnt something during a certain period. From here will really push our self to achieve a good goals of mark. Presentation will be done in a group in my college. We will communicate between friends to do a work. Group project is where all members will sit together and complete a task together. This work as student is testing how far we can do something with individual and with friends. Exam we get to learnt how to write, think, how to organize something and how to manage our time management by reaching before the exam start. For assignment I learnt how to do research on net, analysis and do work in computer. Presentation I learnt oral studies with my group members about how to do, complete and research for the work. Group project is to see our team work. I was the group leader and I see that team work in my group is very well going. Experience 3: Society/Activity Final experience that I want to share is when I became a captain for my futsal team in college. From here I learnt a lot of thing about how to manage things carefully. Im a vice president of badminton club in my college. Being a team captain for my futsal team is very hard task. I learnt how to make strategies and manage my team while playing on field. Vice president works is enjoyable because I been very friendly to everyone who just join the club, get to give my experience to the junior who dont really know how to play and manage my work with arranging all the student info in details. Section 3: Objective 1 The first objective that I want to set is to find part time job on my semester break. To gain more knowledge of working style is my main target and how to solve things easily. The action that I have to take is to search job in internet and newspaper. I will do this in this 2years time because I have 2 more years to go to complete my degree. Objective 2 My second objective is I would like to set to learn Mandarin. This is because I want to improve my listening and speaking skills in this language. The actions I have taken to improve in this language is by attending for the language classes. Other than that, even to improve faster, I will start to mix around with those who have knowledge about this language. I will attend for this class during my semester break. The class will be on every weekend only for 2hours. I want to do in weekend because I will be busy on weekdays because I have classes to attend. Objective 3 My final objectives is to learn about computer programming which is basically gives more importance to internet usage. I want to learn this because computer programming is very important in today s world. To do so, I have to attend for classes in order to get the specific knowledge about using the internet. I will ask any of my friends to recommend for me a better centre that offer this program or else I will ask my brother to teach me because he is good and have experience in computer programming. I will tell my brother to give me a class for this computer programming every day for 1hour because Im staying with him. Curriculum Vitae Ravinder Singh Toor Current Address: Main Address: 88, Jalan 14/15, Section 14 958, Lorong Anggerik Kanan 3,58000 Petaling Jaya, Bandar Sunggala, 71050PD,Selangor Darul Ehsan. Negeri Sembilan. Tel: 016-6560217 DOB: 4 APRIL 1989 E-Mail: [emailprotected] To fulfill all the needs that a company want and will come up with great ideas to bring the company into a upper level of successfulness. Education 2008-2011 Currently doing my Degree in BA(Hons)International Business Average point for Year1: 66% Module: Introduction to Economics, Governing Business Activities, Accounting and Its Regulatory Framework, People Organizations Management, Marketing Principle and Practice, International Entrepreneurship. 2006-2008 Foundation Studies in Business(FSB) at Stamford College. 2002-2006 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia(SPM) at Sekolah Tinggi Port Dickson. Experience 2005 Work part time as Waiter. 2006 Work at Damai Jaya Shipping Trading as admin. Academy/Society Sport- Football captain (2008-2009) Badminton- Vice President (2009) Toast Masters member Interest Like working in a area where I can develop my experience and learn new thing. Skills Good in Microsoft Office, Excel and Power Point. Good in handling and solving problem. Language- Excellent English and Bahasa Malaysia.

The Economic Importance Of Hospitality Industry Tourism Essay

The Economic Importance Of Hospitality Industry Tourism Essay The hospitality industry is growing very rapidly and contributing nearly 10 % of the worlds GDP (Boella, 2000). In the last decades the hospitality industry has got much importance of vigorous process of expansion. Consequently the hospitality industry is expanding globally and promoting its growth in a changing multicultural environment. Hospitality is being built at regional, national and global levels. Internationally oriented hospitality industry with different companies competes also locally and regionally. A great number of indicators show the sign of economic growth predicted by the International Monetary Fund and this growth will be distributed unevenly in developing countries (6.4 %) and (2.2 %) in advanced nations. Hospitality industry constitutes many subsectors; hotels and restaurant is one of most source of economic growth. Tourism and Hospitality The terms tourism and hospitality are co-related and grouped together as a single industry. However these both hospitality and tourism industries are viewed as two individual sectors. There exist overlapping between these two. Tourism is defined as the persons travel and goes for the places outside of their usual environment for less than one year to accomplish their business purpose and for leisure; they are not employed there on visiting places. Hospitality is the provision of the accommodations, venues, meals and drinks to those people who are out of their homes. People of UK enjoy these services and also other non-resident residents. Both of these industries cover the restaurants, accommodations, hotels and other exhibition activities. Tourism is not the subsector of the Hospitality merely a source of the tourist services. In this way we have made a clear difference between two overlapping industries (www.baha-uk.org). We carry on our subject further to complete the task of hospi tality and its subsectors. Hospitality industry may include the following sectors. Licensed clubs Food shops Catering activities In-house catering Exhibition and fair organizers activities Activities of conference organizers Other food services These are the areas of the hospitality industry which provide the services in different ways. Hospitality is the focal point in those countries where tourism is the major export industry. Cross border flow of business people and capitals has flourished the hospitality industry. The hospitality is the main source of foreign currency exchange and largest employers to employ the workforce. Hospitality brings the different cultures together in global community. Countries suffering from trade balances look the hospitality and tourism to close the gap. Therefore the hospitality is a not concept but it is a driving force in the global market. Lifestyle and globalization of business is communicated in foreign languages and coping with different political and social systems. Hospitality companies require the globally think to survive and competing hospitality organizations work maturely in UK and U.S. The companies competing in all aspects of the hospitality industry will move across their na tional boundaries. The view that in future the global entities with advantages will compete due to globalization is in not acceptable. Hotels are classified on the base of the season and services as we can distinguish between the Motel 6 and four season hotels. The Marriot Company is well established and covers the price and service levels and serves the extended stay and luxury vacation segment. Marriot hotels Resorts and Suits Courtyard by Marriot Spring Hill suits by Marriot Marriot Conference centers Marriot Vacation Club International Residence Inn by Marriot Marriot operates and owns a luxury group of hotels as a segment of market. The hotel chains grew after the Second World War and more greatly in the following two decades. The trend to rise beyond the national boundaries is due to pressure of growing hotel companies. These companies march to reach the critical point where the property is sufficient to satisfy the tourism and providing their needs. Hotel sub sector of hospitality may reach to a point where no other option for the customer is left. The hotel market which is set in America and their leadership may cast attention to potential for moving it into Asia/Pacific markets to compete the regional companies. These global Hospitality companies introduce the global brands and products to their customers. Large numbers of hotels have developed the single brands and products in a very uniform fashion in global market. It is also observed that tourists and travelers are in demand of unique local products from the hospitality industry. In response the global companies have tried in a way to reflect in a local design. The hospitality sector (hotel and restaurant) are the essential components of this industry. Luxury hotels with other services like beds, breakfast, inns and also cover wide range of accommodation services. The International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) has represented the hospitality industry at global level. Hotel developments are important for the new opportunities of jobs and stimulate the local economies. Generally hotels provide the two types of the services: (i) accommodation and (ii) dining services. Customers of this industry include the foreign visitors, domestic households and institutional buyers. Competitive pricing, availability of services and extent free services are the main three factors which affect the lodging facilities and selection of hotels. In the past five years the visitors have been growing at the annual rate of 9%. Hotels are the main and popular source of accommodations for more than 50% of foreign visitors. Due to increased demand of accommodations the every segment of the hotel industry has been steady expanded. It is estimated that hospitality economy will be grown to 2.8 million jobs by 2015 in UK. Hospitality and Hotels We are interested to know about the business types of the business covered by the large resort hotels. Hotel provision comes into general context of hospitality with many dimensions providing the shelter and body comforts. Hotels and other establishment catered for those mobile people who go for their personal and work lives. It was recorded that total of nearly 700 million tourist have arrived at international level. This data shows the 241.5 million increases for the last ten years and annual growth rate approached at 4.9%. Most important region where tourist arrived was the Europe with 4.5% annual change in market growth less than the Middle East (10.7%), Eastern Asia and Africa with 6.6% growth and Western Asia (8.8%) (Brotherton, 2000). Availability of capital is very crucial and key drive for the hotel development and hotel companies. The main source for the hotel development comes from the personal support, loans, investing companies, stock and shares and governments. Hospitality and Employment Hospitality is providing more than 10% employment in UK approximately to 2.5 million people. The hospitality business can be divided into two main categories. Firstly the hospitality business (clubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and contract catering), it accounted the two third of this industry. Secondly hospitality services like food outlets and hospitals and account one third of the industry. There are full time and part time employed persons in this sector of the hospitality. It is noted that employment depends upon the working conditions found in the industry as weekends, long hours and other flexibilities (Flynn et al, 2000). Catering Restaurant Accommodation Hotels Transport Visitor attractions Consumer Recreational facilities Government Intermediaries Miscellaneous Services Figure 1: Industrial sector of leisure and Hospitality The above figure shows the major components of the leisure industry and consumers such as tourists or travelers are the focal point of this industry. Different sizes organizations develop the international market with hundreds of leisure products. These organizations work locally as well as globally in public and commercial sectors. Large leisure product providing companies recognize their targeted customers and think about the things across national boundaries. Global fast food chains are now common in Europe market for the global fast food chains. Due to development and openness of this growth in world has made rapid growth in their economies. The rapid growth of franchised fast foods at the McDonalds, Burger King and Pizza Hut have invited the youth of America and all around the world to see the culture. Hospitality industry keeps the hotel business with different products, methods, and technology and less easy to analyze it. Hotel industry produces many products in varying sale markets of the world. It keeps close contacts with its customers who consume the products at the sale points. Importance of Hotels Hotels are important globally as providing the facilities for recreation and entertainment, meeting and conferences and business transmission. When hotels are essential for the economies and societies are appropriate to transport. Hotels contribute the output of goods and related services which build well-being of their nations and communities. Visitors spend the hotels and contribute the local economies directly and indirectly. When foreign visitors avail the facilities of these hotels the foreign currency is earned through the visitors payments. Hospitality industry becomes the source of employment especially for the labors and management. Thousands of jobs are provided to locals as well as foreigners by these hotels in its different occupations. Hotels are also an alternative source for the locals as amenities. Many hotels are the social centre of their communities (Medlik Hadyn Ingram, 2002). In UK the hospitality industry is spread and generates the wealth and employment. It becomes the source where jobs are most required in highlands of Scotland to the South West of England and on major cities like London and Edinburgh. Small enterprises have also strengthened the social fabric of local communities in UK. Hospitality industry has seen many ups and down in UK during the twentieth century and world leading nations have seen many changes in society. Improvements in economy have paved the way for enhancement in living standards for the majority of people residing in those countries. Many social changes for the industrys operators are observed including the increased disposable incomes, cheaper and easier travel and more leisure time. The rise in standards of living by hospitality industry varies providing services and products, employment and leisure services. For the tourism the catering; hotel industry is very essential element and considered to be very fastest growing industry and earning the foreign currency. According to British Hospital Association the total value of tourism was estimated 76 billion GBP in UK during the 2003. Cafe, Public houses, in house catering facilities and restaurant were used by the tourists or the people study in the cities other than their homes. People lik e to eat the meal at these places instead of their homes. In recent years the hospitality industry has made growth in products and services and larger companies are in effort to improve the wages and other conditions of employees. It is noted that most employees generate 40,000 GBP for their employer per year, 10% to 40% labor charges and remainder goes to property costs, fixed cost and profit and material costs. Many changes are expected in hospitality industry in future (Mullins, et. al, 2001). Women are main workforce in hospitality in UK and expect that more progress will be made by the time of the Paralympics Games in 2012. Other significant advantage of this hospitality industry is to recruit the people with few or no qualification and giving them chance to make progress. It is clear from the above discussion that hospitality is major source of income where this industry is established for the services and products in global market. We have largely discussed the contribution o f the hospitality industry in the economy of UK. According to British Hospitality Association more than 500,000 employees are engaged in the Hospitality industry of UK. BHA is launching a new opportunity of partnership between government and industry to make shared efforts to achieve the desired and sustainable growth of economy of UK (http://www.bha.org.uk). Conclusions In this paper we have discussed the hospitality industry and its major contributions towards the economic growth at local, regional and global level. A clear distinction between hospitality and tourism industry is proven with key examples. One of subsector of the hospitality hotel and restaurant is given with statistics and figures. The impacts of hospitality industry at global level are positive and UK is forefront to get the benefits from this industry. Main advantages of hospitality industry are also part of this paper.

The Journey Of Odysseus And Te :: essays research papers

In The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Richard Lattimore, several themes are made evident, conceived by the nature of the time period, and customs of the Greek people. These molded and shaped the actual flow of events and outcomes of the poem. Beliefs of this characteristic were represented by the sheer reverence towards the gods and the humanities the Greek society exhibited, and are both deeply rooted within the story. In the intricate and well-developed plot of The Odyssey, Homer harmonized several subjects. One of these, was the quest of Telemachos, (titled "Telemachy") in correlation with the journey of his father. In this, he is developed from a childish, passive, and untested boy, to a young man preparing to stand by his fathers side. This is directly connected to the voyage of Odysseus, in that they both lead to the same finale, and are both stepping stones towards wisdom, manhood, and scholarship. Through these voyages certain parallels are drawn concerning Odysseus and Telemachos: the physical journeys, the mental preparations they have produced, and what their emotional status has resulted in. These all partake a immense role in the way the story is set up, stemming from the purpose of each character’s journey, their personal challenges, and the difficulties that surround them. The story commences when Odysseus, a valiant hero of the Trojan war, journeys back home. Together with his courageous comrades, and a several vessels, he set sail for his homeland Ithaca. Fated to wander for a full ten years, Odysseus’s ships were immediately blown to Thrace by a powerful storm. The expedition had begun. Upon this misfortune, he and his men started a raid on the land of the Cicones. However, this only provided them with temporary success. The Cicones had struck back and defeated a vast majority of Odysseus’s crew. This was their first of many disastrous experiences to come. Storms then blew his ships to Libya and the land of the Lotus-eaters, where the crew was given Lotus fruit from which most lost their entire memories from home. Odysseus, and the others who had not tasted it, recovered the sailors by force, and set sail again, westward, this time to the island of the Cyclops, a wild race of one-eyed giants. Leaving most of his men in a sheltered cove, Odysseus then entered the island with one crew only. They wandered around, encountering, and foolishly entering an immense cave, awaiting the owner.

William Marshall Essay -- essays research papers fc

William Marshall is considered by many to be the epitome of knighthood and chivalry as well as being an outstanding ambassador for England during the turbulent twelfth and thirteenth centuries. From a virtually obscure beginning, William evolves into one of the most dominant stately figures of the time in England. During his brilliant military and political career, William served as knight for the courts of Kings Henry II, Richard (the Lion-hearted), and John. William was born around 1147 to John Marshall and Sybil of Salisbury during the reign of King Stephen. His father, John Marshall, served as a court officer and eventually earned the status of a minor baron. John Marshall was a shrewd soldier and a skilled negotiator. He was the premier example of lordship in William’s life. William’s relationship with his father would be brief and he would never experience him beyond his childhood. John Marshall died in 1165. John would leave a legacy behind that would influence William’s life and spark the future of his outstanding career both as a soldier and a courtier. At age thirteen William was sent to William De Tancarville, to begin his military training for the knighthood. William De Tancarville was known throughout Europe as one of the grander patrons of knighthood. In the Tancarville household, William would learn courtliness in addition to all other prerequisites found in a professional soldier of the day. After six years of being a squire in the Tancarville Household, Marshall was knighted in 1166. In 1170, King Henry II appointed William to the head of his son’s mesnie or military household. William was responsible for protecting, training, and maintaining the military household for Prince Henry. In 1173, William knighted the young Henry, becoming his lord of chivalry. During this time period, Marshall earns many victories on the tournament field and here he first establishes himself as one of the most prolific and gallant knights of the time. During these tournaments, Marshall began to create and mold friendships with the most powerful and influential men of the day. In 1183, during a rebellion against his father, Prince Henry contracted dysentery. As his health rapidly deteriorated, Prince Henry gave William his cloak, which had a Crusader’s cross stitched on it, and made him promise to deliver it to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Wil... ...od that Marshall transcends boundaries from knight into statesman. Under William’s rule, order is restored to England. This reestablished royal rule in England. Marshall watched over the noble household and cared for the young own king until his death on May 14, 1219. William served faithfully under three kings and served as regent for a fourth. His loyalty and honor never hesitated and were never compromised. His oaths of fealty and innate sense of honor governed and directed his entire life. Because of his commitments, William Marshall will remain the most outstanding knight of the Middle Ages. WORKS CITED Crouch, David. 1990. William Marshall Court, Career and Chivalry in the Angevin Empire. Longman Publishing, New York.

Child Abuse and the Feeling of Helplessness Essay examples -- Children

Smack! Mother hits me in the face, and I topple to the floor. I know better than to stand there and take the hit. I learned the hard way that she takes that as an act of defiance, which means more hits, or worst of all, no food. I regain my posture and dodge her looks, as she screams in my ear. Please, I say to myself, just let me eat this time. Hit me again, but I have to have food. Another blow pushes my head against the tile counter top (Pelzer, 1995). This is the beginning of a typical day for David Pelzer, a victim of child abuse for four years. Child abuse is the physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment of children. That is the typical definition coming from the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. But ask anyone who has been a victim of child abuse, and they might tell you that child abuse is like living in hell, never knowing what might happen to you, and never knowing when it will end. Nobody should have to feel that helpless, and victims are usually left with an uncountable amount of psychological effects. Everyone needs to become more aware of the signs of abuse, and become more educated of a problem that keeps growing every day. Child abuse can incorporate a wide variety of abusive actions, from acts of commission, to lack of action or omission (Kliegman, 1997). Abuse can start even before the birth of a child, such as maternal drug abuse and failure to seek the usual prenatal health care during pregnancy. After birth, child abuse is divided into four basic forms, and each area overlaps into another. The four areas are physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse. Children who are at high-risk for child abuse include mentally retarded children, premature infants, infants with chronic medical pr... .... I chose to right this paper in hoping that I get my point across. People need to be more educated about abuse. It is becoming too normal for everyday life. I am only 19, and know personally two people who have been abused. Is it going to become a regular occurrence for at least one child in every family to be abused in some way? But if everyone in every community works together in providing the proper information and education, people can stop abuse before it even starts. We can stop this feeling of helplessness going around today. References Kaplan, Michael. (1996, September). A Boy or Girl. Children Today, pp. 25-29. Kleigman, Arvin. (1997, March). The Effects of Child Abuse on All Involved. Psychology:Today and Tomorrow, pp. 17-39. Pelzer, Dave. (1995). A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive. Health Communications, Inc.; Reissue edition